Gardening Articles: Landscaping :: Yard & Garden Planning

Building Great Soil (page 5 of 5)

by Warren Schultz

Home Soil Audit

Bill Wolf, president of the board of directors of the Organic Materials Review Institute, suggests gardeners audit their soil like this: In spring, while soil is moist and warm (at least 55&degF), find an area of the garden where the ground is covered by mulch or green manure, and dig up a chunk 1 foot square by 6 inches deep. Place the soil on a piece of wood or cardboard, and count the earthworms in the mass of soil. If you find 10 or more earthworms, your soil has good fertility.

Warren Schultz lives in Essex, Vermont and has been a frequent contributor to National Gardening.